Shunt equation
Shunt Equation
The Shunt Equation (pronounced: /ʃʌnt iːˈkweɪʒən/) is a mathematical formula used in the field of medicine and physiology to calculate the ratio of pulmonary shunt to total cardiac output. The term "shunt" is derived from the Old English "scunten", meaning to evade or bypass, which is a fitting description of the physiological process it represents.
Definition
The Shunt Equation is defined as:
Qs/Qt = (CcO2 - CaO2) / (CcO2 - CvO2)
Where:
- Qs is the shunt flow
- Qt is the total cardiac output
- CcO2 is the oxygen content in pulmonary capillary blood
- CaO2 is the oxygen content in arterial blood
- CvO2 is the oxygen content in mixed venous blood
Usage
The Shunt Equation is primarily used to determine the extent of a pulmonary shunt, which is a condition where blood bypasses the lungs and thus does not get oxygenated. This is a common occurrence in various lung diseases such as pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Related Terms
- Pulmonary Shunt: A condition where blood bypasses the lungs and does not get oxygenated.
- Cardiac Output: The amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in a minute.
- Arterial Blood Gas (ABG): A test that measures the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood.
- Oxygen Saturation (SpO2): The extent to which hemoglobin is saturated with oxygen.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Shunt equation
- Wikipedia's article - Shunt equation
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski